Dr Orr and colleagues from Oklahoma, America undertook a study in order to determine whether treatment with a proton-pump inhibitor (rabeprazole) would improve both objective and subjective measures of sleep.

Individuals with complaints of significant gastro-esophageal reflux disease were studied by polysomnography and 24-h pH monitoring on two separate nights.

On one occasion, participants received 20 mg rabeprazole b.d., and on another they received placebo.

Both study conditions were preceded by a week of treatment with either rabeprazole or placebo.

There were no significant differences on objective measures of sleep between placebo and rabeprazole treatment.

Dr Orr concluded, "Consistent with other studies of pharmacological treatments for gastro-esophageal reflux, subjective measures of sleep improved with heartburn medication but objective measures were not affected."